Arth’s Pantheon: The Gods of Earth

This is part of a series on Arth’s Pantheon. Twice a month we’re taking a look at life on Arth and the gods that shape it. If you’re new to the series, get started with an overview. This post looks at the gods of the realm of earth, of stone and plants and harvest.

It’s said that the first gods that the Creator rose up were those who governed over the elements, and that the gods of stone and earth were the first among those. The gods and goddesses of stone and soil, plants and harvest are the eldest gods, and their leader is among the most prolifically worshipped deities in the world.

Arthan

The Agekeepers say that Mount Wynspar was once named Mount Arthan for the Stennish god of mountains and stone.

• Race: Sten
• Status: Banished (formerly Dominant)

Maeneth

Maenath governs plants, cycles of life, and fertility.  A favorite of farmers who work the land, Maeneth is also associated with pregnancy and children. She was sister to Leurieth before the Creator took them from the Weave. Though she holds dominion over all plants, she has a special relationship with crops: Maeneth was one of the first goddesses to work directly with Man to help him till the soil and make food for himself.

Maeneth is known as the Earth Mother for good reason. She was married to Arthan gods, and before the fall she had numerous children with him. Many of these offspring became the great spirits of the world’s landmarks, and others became minor gods associated with specific types of trees and plants. Legends say that after an Age without her husband, Maeneth began to visit other gods and spirits, and now has birthed many minor deities and demi-gods. She has children with Odylanar, Tengar, and Ad’az.

Maeneth is one of the most frequently worshipped gods on Arth; being sacred to anyone who eats food or wants children has left her with a lot of opportunity. Farmers pay her special heed, and it’s said that she petitions her sister, Leurieth, to bring droughts upon those who anger her. She is a frequent target of attacks by the conquering gods Razar and Az’ilgar, but works with Erro and Tandos to drive them back. She has a complicated relationship with Fengelde, who is her partner in the forests and her foe on the fields. When the druids roamed Arth, they worshipped both goddesses. Some druidic legends depict Maeneth and Fengelde at war, while others portray them as lovers.

The eighth month of Arth’s calendar, commonly called Harvestgild, is named for Maeneth.

• Titles: The Lady of Harvest, the Earth Mother, the Fruitful Tree
• Race: Elf
• Status: Ascendant
• Favored Weapon: Scythe
• Holy Symbol: a turtle (usually a turtle with a fruit tree on its back)
• Colors: Yellow, Brown, and Green

Az’gar (formerly Aednar)

Aednar and Dakran were brothers, born to the same Titan mother before the Creator raised them to godhood. Aednar ascended first, and begged tge creator to bring his brother to the Hall as well. Both loved treasure, and Aednar’s passion was for digging it up. He was the god of mines, digging, and depths, as well as gems and ore. Mannon approached Dakran and Aednar about joining his cause, but Dakran backed out. Aednar didn’t, and by the Third Age he had become Az’gar, the Goblin god of the Deep Places. He rules over the world beneath the world.

Goblin legends say that when Mannon asked Az’Gar to join Nephan’s War, Az’Gar refused. Mannon chained him in the depths of his own realm, and now Az’Gar is stranded below the Hall of the Gods. He can do little against other gods directly there, but he and his clergy do cause some mischief. Shadowkin lore says that Az’gar can manifest himself as him as a kind old Goblin with gems for teeth and a strange manner of speaking. He will reward cleverness and shrewd behavior with treasures, but drag brutes and fools back to the depths with him.

Az’gar has few temples and no Goblin tribes hold allegiance to him, but many Shadowkin invoke him when digging or working in mines. Some Deep Gnomes keep shrines to him as well.

• Titles: The Delving God, the Lord of Mines
• Race: Goblin (formerly Dwarf)
• Favored Weapon: Pickaxe
• Holy Symbol: Badger
• Colors: Black and Silver

Kaedna

Kaedna is the roaming goddess, the favored lady of explorers, travelers, and those that love the unknown. She is associated with geography, and the mistress of cartographers everywhere. Gnomish lore holds that Kaedna often has her angels and spirits visit Arth to pose as gracious guests. Good hosts to her find their homes blessed; their crops grow faster, flowers bloom in their yards, trees that grow silver fruit sprout in their homes.  Poor hosts are cursed, for a duration that matches the severity of their failure.  She is the patroness to Clan Kaedrin, the Tinderkin.

Kaedna is less ambitious than other gods, but she will wander where she will. Her meanderings take her into trouble from time to time, sparking conflicts with one god or another. Likewise, her clergy views concepts like “property” and “trespassing” to be blasphemous, so they frequently find themselves “arrested” and placed in “jail.” Any bannerman or jailer who does arrest the Traveler’s clerics is usually quick to correct their error; Kaedna will wander where she will. Woe to those who stand in her way.

• Titles: The Wandering One, the Traveler, the Cheerful Guest
• Race: Gnome
• Favored Weapon: Oak staff / Walking Stick
• Holy Symbol: Oak staff / Walking Stick
• Colors: Green and Orange

That’s it for this section of Arth’s Pantheon. You can get a good overview of the gods of Arth here. There’s more Arth Lore available on the blog as well. And in case you haven’t journeyed to Arth yourself yet, check out my books for some fantasy adventure that’s so funny, it’s epic.